Control of closed network using network slice

Abstract

To facilitate external access to a certain network while maintaining a high security level, a communication system authorizes, based on a permission request relating to a terminal connectable to a network slice of a closed network, the network slice of the closed network as a network slice to which connection via a specified radio device which is a part of a plurality of base station radio devices is permitted (S 103 and S 104 ). After the network slice of the closed network is added, the communication system sets a communication path between the terminal connected to the network slice of the closed network via the specified radio device and a service system connected to the network slice of the closed network (S 204 ). After communication via the specified radio device is finished, the communication system cancels the authorization of the network slice of the closed network as the network slice to which connection via the specified radio device is permitted (S 303 and S 304 ).

1 . A communication system, comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a plurality of base station radio devices including a specified radio device,   the communication system causing at least one of the one or more processors to execute:
 an authorization process of authorizing, based on a permission request relating to a terminal connectable to a predetermined network slice forming a closed network, the predetermined network slice as a network slice to which connection via the specified radio device is permitted; 
 a path setting process of setting, after the predetermined network slice is authorized, a communication path between the terminal connecting to the predetermined network slice via the specified radio device and a service system connected to the predetermined network slice; and 
 a cancellation process of canceling, after communication between the terminal and the service system via the specified radio device is finished, the authorization of the predetermined network slice as the network slice to which connection via the specified radio device is permitted. 
   
     
     
         2 . The communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein the authorization process is based on a permission request by a user of the service system relating to a terminal connectable to the predetermined network slice. 
     
     
         3 . The communication system according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a part of the one or more processors is arranged at a site at which the service system is arranged, and   wherein the communication system causes at least one of the part of the one or more processors arranged at the site to execute a relay process of relaying communication between the terminal connected to the predetermined network slice via the specified radio device and the service system.   
     
     
         4 . The communication system according to  claim 3 , further comprising a site radio device arranged at the site and connectable to the predetermined network slice,
 wherein, in the relay process, communication between another terminal connected to the predetermined network slice via the site radio device and the service system is further relayed.   
     
     
         5 . The communication system according to  claim 3 , wherein, in the path setting process, a communication path between an external network different from the closed network and the terminal is set when the terminal connects to a network slice different from the predetermined network slice via the specified radio device. 
     
     
         6 . A communication control method, comprising causing at least one of one or more processors to:
 authorize, based on a permission request relating to a terminal connectable to a predetermined network slice forming a closed network, the predetermined network slice as a network slice to which connection via a specified radio device which is a part of a plurality of base station radio devices is permitted;   set, after the predetermined network slice is authorized, a communication path between the terminal connecting to the predetermined network slice via the specified radio device and a service system connected to the predetermined network slice; and   cancel, after communication between the terminal and the service system via the specified radio device is finished, the authorization of the predetermined network slice as the network slice to which connection via the specified radio device is permitted.